Abstract

Any technique that uses living organisms or substances from these organisms to
make or modify a product or to improve plant or animal or to develop microorganism for
specific uses, can be termed biotechnology. Biotechnology involves microbes or cells
derived from plants and animals for efficient production of useful products for mankind.
The use of microbes for production of alcohol and penicillin, to name a few, is well
known. However, in the last 10-15 years, several novel organisms, yielding useful
products have been created by genetic engineering techniques. Today, there is a wide
application of biotechnology in human medicine and animal husbandry in the area of
diagnosis, prophylaxis and therapy.